Associate Director, Student Services

University of Utah; Campus (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah seeks an Associate Director of Student Success to lead and coordinate college‑level student success initiatives within the College of Humanities. You will report to the Dean and develop, coordinate, and evaluate programs supporting recruitment, transition, engagement, retention, persistence, and graduation.

You will collaborate with departments, programs, and the Dean’s Office to ensure quality student services across a distributed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration, a related area, or equivalency.
• Six years of progressively more responsible management experience; demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leads college student‑success planning and implementation.
• Develops and implements student‑service objectives consistent with College and University goals, with emphasis on recruitment, retention, persistence, timely graduation, student engagement, and access to University resources.
• Coordinates student‑success services across the College and works with departments, programs, faculty, and staff to establish consistent processes.
• Leads college‑level recruitment, orientation, retention, and engagement initiatives and coordinates participation in yield activities and orientation.
• Provides leadership for college student affairs processes, developing escalation and referral pathways and working with university offices on specialized matters.
• Serves as a primary liaison with LAS and university student‑success partners, coordinating with Undergraduate Affairs, Graduate School, Career Services, and others.
• Coordinates student communications and access to resources, ensuring timely, accurate information about opportunities and services.
• Develops and evaluates student‑success programs with clear measures and uses data to inform priorities and resource decisions.
• Provides functional leadership for distributed student‑success work across multiple College offices.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Management experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration

Master’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

Regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. Some after hours and weekend work required.

VP Area

VP Area Academic Affairs

Department

Department 00081 - College of Humanities-Dean

Location

Location Campus

City

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment

External Posting

Pay Rate Range

60000 to 85000

Close Date

10/30/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

09/30/2026

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Student Success provides college-level leadership and coordination for student success initiatives within the College of Humanities. Reporting to the Dean, the position develops, coordinates, and evaluates programs and services supporting student recruitment, transition, engagement, retention, persistence, and graduation.

The Associate Director works across academic departments, programs, and the Dean’s Office to ensure continuity and quality of student services in a distributed administrative environment. The position serves as a primary College liaison with LAS and University student‑success partners, including Undergraduate Affairs, the Graduate School, Career and Professional Development Center, Undergraduate Research, and other student‑facing offices and organizations.

The Associate Director identifies gaps in student services, develops and improves college-level processes and programs, coordinates responsibilities across organizational boundaries, and uses assessment and student‑success data to inform priorities and resource decisions. The position supports the University of Utah’s goals and mission and serves as a catalyst among students, faculty, staff, academic units, and University partners to improve the student experience and student outcomes.

Responsibilities

Leads college student‑success planning and implementation. Develops and implements student‑service objectives consistent with College and University goals, with emphasis on recruitment, retention, persistence, timely graduation, student engagement, and access to University resources.

• Coordinates student‑success services across the College. Works with academic departments, programs, faculty, academic program staff, graduate coordinators, and administrative staff to establish effective and consistent student‑service processes. Identifies service gaps, unnecessary duplication, and opportunities for improved coordination.
• Leads college‑level recruitment, orientation, retention, and engagement initiatives. Coordinates College participation in recruitment and yield activities, new‑student orientation, retention initiatives, student engagement activities, and other programs supporting students throughout their academic experience.
• Provides leadership for college student affairs processes. Coordinates student petitions, complex student matters, referrals, and other student‑affairs processes requiring College‑level review or intervention. Develops clear escalation and referral pathways and works with appropriate University offices on matters requiring specialized expertise or authority.
• Serves as a primary liaison with LAS and University student‑success partners. Develops collaborative relationships with Undergraduate Affairs, Graduate School, Career Services, Undergraduate Research, student organizations, and other campus partners. Works closely with LAS /regional student‑success leadership and colleagues in other colleges to align services while representing Humanities‑specific student needs.
• Coordinates student communications and access to resources. Works with College and department staff to ensure students receive timely, accurate, and accessible information about academic opportunities, College programs, deadlines, support resources, and student‑success services.
• Develops and evaluates student‑success programs and services. Establishes objectives and measures for College initiatives and evaluates program effectiveness using available data, student feedback, participation, retention, graduation, and other relevant measures. Recommends changes and new initiatives based on identified needs.
• Provides functional leadership for distributed student‑success work. Establishes expectations, roles, workflows, and service standards for student‑success activities performed across multiple College offices and positions. Provides direct supervision to assigned staff and coordinates work with employees who contribute to student‑success functions but report through other administrative or academic structures.
• Supports graduation and major student milestones. Provides leadership and coordination for College graduation‑related activities and other significant student programs and events, working with Dean’s Office staff, academic units, and University partners responsible for operational execution.
• Participates in policy, strategic, and resource planning. Assists College leadership in developing and interpreting student‑related policies and procedures; establishes short‑ and long‑term objectives; identifies resource requirements; and collaborates with finance and administrative leadership on budgetary needs for student‑success programs and special initiatives.
• Serves as a member of the Dean’s Office management team. Advises the Dean, Associate Deans, chairs, directors, and administrative leadership regarding student needs, service delivery, emerging issues, program effectiveness, and opportunities to advance College and University student‑success priorities.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required

Nearly Continuously: Office environment.

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required

Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.

Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration, a related area, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Six years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communication skills also required.

Master’s degree in Business Administration or related area preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

Previous experience at the University of Utah or higher education institution.

Additional Information

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law.

Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security‑related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5‑108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a related Bachelor's degree or equivalency? (2 years related work experience may be substituted for 1 year of education)
  • Yes
  • No
• * How many years of progressively more responsible management experience do you have?
  • Less than 2 years
  • 2 year or more, but less than 4 years
  • 4 years or more, but less than 6 years
  • 6 years or more, but less than 10 years
  • 10 years or more
• * Do you have a Master’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• Historical Only – Do Not Use – See Description for More Information – Appropriate discharge document (such as DD-2214) – Veteran Only
• Historical Only – Do Not Use – See Document Description for More Information – Addendum to the University of Utah – Veteran Only

University Human Resource Management

250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

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